Dutchess-Orange United Way unveils funding strategy

MIDDLETOWN — United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is moving forward with a new commitment to social change for the community.

BY HEATHER YAKIN

MIDDLETOWN — United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is moving forward with a new commitment to social change for the community.

In the two years since the Orange County United Way and United Way of Dutchess County merged, they've been planning with community partners and volunteers. Leaders from the organization met Monday with the Times Herald-Record's Editorial Board to discuss their vision for the first phase of their new funding strategy, the Blueprint for Change. It's a refinement of how the organization distributes its money to nonprofits that serve the community's most pressing needs.

"We're bringing all voices to the table, and then collectively making a decision," said Sheila Appel, chairwoman of the organization's board of directors.

Appel and CEO Donald Hammond said the chapter has gone from a group that decides upon grant awards to one that brings in community members and subject-matter experts to figure out what issues are important to the region and what empirically tested programs or strategies will work to make a difference.

"We see it as sort of a call to action," said Diane Hart, community impact director for United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.

The organization will focus on three key areas — education, health and income — and look to help best-practices programs in areas such as child literacy, domestic violence, obesity and financial literacy.

David Jolly, a United Way board member and the chairman of the Community Impact Committee, cited the example of intimate-partner violence. Many effective law enforcement programs are in place to deal with the aftermath of violence, he said; "Where our funding isn't so strong is in prevention."

Rather than duplicate domestic violence shelter aid, which is available from the government, Jolly said, the United Way is looking to focus money on evidence-based educational measures, such as healthy relationships programs for kids.

"At the end of the day, our donors want to know every dollar is going into the community, that they're making a difference," Jolly said.

The Request for Proposal process for grant applications is open through March 11, and grants will be awarded in May-June.